Today, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 5:08 pm PDT, marks the exact time of the 57th Anniversary of Jack Parsons‘ tragic death. Parsons, (born, Marvel Whiteside Parsons, and also known as John), was a brilliant scientist who was one of the main founders of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (affectionately known as “Jack Parsons Laboratories, by Parsons fans).

Jack was the inventor of solid rocket fuel, which was the single most important contribution to the Moon missions, for without Jack’s contribution, there never would have been a man on the moon (at least not within the time frame, it was achieved). For his contributions to the field of space exploration, Jack was given the honor of having not one, but two craters on the moon, named for him (albeit, both are on the dark side of the moon … amazingly appropriate.) Read about Parsons’ craters here.

Despite enough intelligence to have garnered him lasting fame for his contributions in the field of science and chemistry, it was Parsons’ secondary interest and practice of the Magick of Aleister Crowley, that has since overshadowed his more worldly legacy.

Parsons life took a strange turn when he undertook a ritual he named, “The Babalon Working“, wherein he performed an intense Enochian Ritual, specifically designed to manifest an earthly incarnation of the Thelemic primal goddess, “Babalon.”

Much has been written about this extraordinary ritual, and its shocking, seemingly tragic outcome, in the form of two books, “Sex and Rockets“, and “Strange Angel“. (Purchase these books, via links listed below).

I have created several Astrological Charts regarding the highlights of Parsons’ fascinating life, which are available upon request, to serious Magicians, and those interested in the Jack’s magickal career.

In honor of Jack’s memory, there is a group on Facebook, dedicated to this amazingly talented man.

There is also a collector’s edition, Jack Parsons’ Memorial T-Shirt, available here.

Today is the 61st Anniversary of the death of the avatar of Western Magick, Edward Alexander Crowley (more famously known as Aleister Crowley). Thelemites (those who follow the magickal tenets of Crowley) refer to this special day as Crowley’s Greater Feast.

As a Thelemite, I always observe the Holy Days of Thelema, and earlier today remembered to meditate on the special energy of this day; however, at 11:34 pm (PST) the remembrance hit me full force. I felt his spirit must have left close to this time all those years ago.

Of course, today’s observance of the anniversary of Crowley’s death is extra special, as it’s also the day of a rare Jupiter/Venus Conjunction, an Astrological signifier of blissful union.

After looking over the Astrological Chart of Crowley’s death (December 1st, 1947), I saw that the Sun was at 9 Degrees in the sign of Sagittarius. I suddenly realized that this exactly conjoined one of my karmic planets at the exact degree. No wonder the path of Thelema called out to me so strongly in this incarnation!

In closing, I’d like to end this post with one of the more stirring passages from Crowley’s own Liber XV (The Gnostic Mass), wherein the Deacon of the Mass states:

“Unto them from whose eyes the veil of life hath fallen may there be granted the accomplishment of their true Wills; whether they will absorption in the Infinite, or to be united with their chosen and preferred, or to be in contemplation, or to be at peace, or to achieve the labour and heroism of incarnation on this planet or another, or in any Star, or aught else, unto them may there be granted the accomplishment of their wills; yea, the accomplishment of their wills. AUMGN. AUMGN. AUMGN.”

Wherever you are Frater Perdurabo, I hope you can see the beauty of the legacy that lives on in all of your magickal children.

Today is the 60th Anniversary of the death of the avatar of Western Magick, Edward Alexander Crowley (more famously known as Aleister Crowley).

As a Thelemite, I always observe the Holy Days of Thelema, and earlier today remembered to meditate on the special energy of this day; however, at 11:34 pm (PST) the remembrance hit me full force. I felt his spirit must have left close to this time all those years ago.

Today marks the 109th anniversary of Aleister Crowley’s initiation into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (G.’.D.’.), which he joined on November 18th, 1875, receiving his Neophyte Degree (0=0). It was upon that occasion Crowley took his legendary Latin motto, “Perdurabo” (“I will endure unto the end”).

Crowley’s introduction to the magickal order was through George Cecil Jones, a gentleman whom he met after he had left Cambridge University. Jones further introduced Crowley to Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers (S.L.M. Mathers) who invited him to join the G.’.D.’.

Frater Perdurabo (as he was known in the group) rose rapidly up the ranks of the Order, and by the year 1900, Crowley had achieved the grade of Adeptus Minor, no small magickal feat.

In that same year, a huge schism took place within the Order that left it in ruins, with Crowley severing ties with the group altogether.

Still, today is a day to remember as Crowley’s first real step upon the road of Magick, without which (in my opinion), Western Occultism would most likely not exist as it does. Certainly, the art of metaphysics and the occult have been forever changed by the force that was Crowley.